CARABAO CUP, 3RD ROUND BIG LET-OFF FOR SPARKY

Saints boss bodges subs but Soares is right on the spot

CEDRIC SOARES struck to dump out Everton on penalties and spare boss Mark Hughes’ blushes after a touchline mix-up.

On-loan Liverpool forward Danny Ings continued his superb start to his Southampton career with his fourth goal this term to open the scoring.

But Everton pushed in the second half for an equaliser and were rewarded with a late goal from sub Theo Walcott, who notched his third of the season.

With the tie heading to penalties Saints chief Hughes ordered Charlie Austin and James Wardprowse to strip off on the touchline to come on and take spot-kicks. But he failed to act quickly enough and referee Chris Kavanagh blew for full-time before the pair could be rushed on.

Leighton Baines and Cenk Tosun both netted for Everton, who went first in the shoot-out, before record £40million signing Richarlison blazed over.

Ings, Steve Davies and Pierre-emile Hojbjerg scored for Southampton to put them ahead.

Kurt Zouma fired in for the Blues before Saints’ Matt Targett and Everton’s Walcott were thwarted, leaving Soares to set-up a trip to Leicester in the fourth round for Southampton.

It was third-time lucky for ex-toffees striker Hughes on his latest trip with the southcoast club to Goodison Park in his brief reign since taking charge in March.

But Everton’s wait for their first trophy since the 1995 FA Cup goes on. Both sides freshened up their line-ups with Everton making seven changes and Southampton six.

Ings tested Maarten Stekelenburg who did well to come out quickly and block. Everton nearly took the lead in the 21st minute but

Angus Gunn, making his second start, did well to palm away Bernard’s left-foot effort.

The Blues grew into the game with widemen Bernard and Ademola Lookman cutting inside to good effect. But Saints closed out the half the stronger as Manolo Gabbiadini volleyed wide from Mario Lemina’s chipped ball.

Then the lively Nathan Redmond drove a low shot against the near post from a tight angle.

Southampton went in ahead at the interval thanks to a low right-foot finish as Ings hammered in a Redmond pass. Everton responded by throwing on striker Oumar Niasse at the break and later Richarlison, too.

Lookman had a clear chance in the 67th minute, but Gunn was off his line superbly to save.

Richarlison appealed for a penalty, but VAR dismissed it, before Everton finally levelled five minutes from time when Niasse released Walcott to slot in.

But he had less luck in the penalty shoot-out.

WE’VE DONE IT Southampton players celebrate after booking their place in the fourth round Cedric Soares gives his team-mate Angus Gunn a hug after Saints’ shoot-out victory

TOTTENHAM are ready to enter the bidding for Paris Saint-germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot in January.The France midfielder, 23, (left) can speak to foreign clubs then, ahead of his contract ending next summer.